China signs drug clinical research pact with ICCBS

KARACHI: International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK) has signed an agreement with the leading Chinese firm, ‘Hunan Anbang Pharmaceutical Company (HAPC)’ to execute clinical trials at Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research (CBSCR), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences.

The State Food and Drug Administration of China (SFDA) has approved this project, “Yinhuang Qingfei Capsule” of Hunan Anbang Pharmaceutical company that invited Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research of the ICCBS to executed clinical trials in Pakistan on Pakistani population. Later on the same drug will be marketed in Pakistan and would solve many health issues of Pakistani populations. The Pakistani populations would have easy and cheap access to chinese medicines. It is pertinent to mention here that CBSCR is a component of Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) University of Karachi.

The MoU was signed in a special ceremony held at the ICCBS on Saturday. In the ceremony, Dr. Xiaochun Chen, Director-General, Health and Family Planning Commission of Hunan Province – China and Director ICCBS-UoK Prof. Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary signed the agreement on behalf of their institutions. Other officials, including visiting-Chinese delegates, Mr.Xu Zhijie, Culture and Education Consul, Chinese Consulate Karachi, Director Confucius Institute – UoK Prof. Huang Guiping, and officials from international center were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese Consul underlined the importance of science and cultural linkages between the two countries. He said that infrastructure has key importance for any research institution, but science linkages are more important than infrastructure.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said that ICCBS was the only institution in Pakistan which was not only certified by ISO but it also became ‘UNESCO Centre for Excellence Category-2 Institute’.

Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research was established in association with World Health Organization, the Federal Ministry of Health, Islamic Development Bank and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, he said and added that CBSCR is a world renowned research center that was selected by Chinese government for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research.

He pointed out that this agreement was signed to promote scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries. He said that ICCBS – University of Karachi was one of the country’s most eminent centers of excellence. This international center is considered the top one of the finest academic research establishments of chemical and biological sciences in the developing world, he maintained.

He said that with state-of-the-art facilities, rich experience, and high level of professionalism, the CBSCR is an independent service provider of Bioavailability (BA)/ Bioequivalence (BE)/ Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, and clinical trial management. Our laboratories have the capability to develop and validate analytical methods for a variety of drug substances and metabolites using sophisticated high-throughput technologies, he said and added that CBSCR utilizes a wide range of latest techniques available for bioanalysis.

Dr. Xiaochun Chen said that Chinese authorities invited ICCBS as a clinical trial unit to carry out clinical verification trials in Pakistan. She praised the efforts of Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman and Prof. Iqbal Choudhary for creating ICCBS-like great research facility in Pakistan, where state-of-the art research instruments are available for science scholars. Director Confucius Institute Prof. Huang Guiping also spoke on the occasion.